BEAST OF BLENHEIM CANDIDATE FOR TRACKING

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley has confirmed serial sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson – known as the Beast of Blenheim – will be a candidate for tracking by satellite.

The 24-hour Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring will be rolled out from August for 11 child-sex offenders – rising to 200 by next year. The monitoring will cost $750,000 this year.

Wilson is due to be freed from prison on September 1. Meanwhile, Mrs Tolley leaves for Melbourne tomorrow to attend the Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management.

PRIME EXAMPLE WHY NOT TO LEND STUFF TO KEY

Prime Minister John Key gave his colleagues a good example of why they should not lend him their stuff when he almost gave away Cabinet minister Craig Foss's iPad yesterday.

Mr Key was using the tablet to quote information for a document he was seeking to table in Parliament during question time.

"I am looking to seek leave to table the document and not the iPad, though, because I need that back," Mr Key explained. As it turns out it wasn't even his iPod and after reading out the information he passed it back to Mr Foss.

PETERS MAINTAINS PRESSURE ON WHANAU ORA

NZ First leader Winston Peters has continued his attack on Whanau Ora. In Parliament yesterday, Mr Peters said questions had been raised about serious financial irregularities at Te Roopu Whakaruruhau o Nga Wahine Maori Women's Refuge in Palmerston North.

"The auditor of that provider submitted an audit alleging fraud, financial mismanagement, and personal rorts."

But Whanau Ora Minister Tariana Turia said Mr Peters was "creating a great melodrama out of a series of unproven facts".

The organisation had never received money under the scheme, she said.

ROSS'S COLOURFUL NEW DISTINGUISHING FEATURE

Labour MP Trevor Mallard refers to him as "the one with the three first names" but National's Jami-Lee Ross has a new distinguishing feature.

The Botany MP has adopted a dress style not unlike Cabinet minister Tony Ryall's colourful attire. When he stood to ask a question, Mr Mallard noted Mr Ross's clashing shirt and tie and interjected with "Who's been stealing Tony Ryall's clothes?"

It followed merciless teasing of National's David Bennett, who flushed puce while asking Finance Minister Bill English a series of patsy questions on public service targets.

- © Fairfax NZ News